A dog strolls along amid the hustle and bustle of large crowds with its measured steps, while the place is filled with chairs designed by those who come from the distant oriental countries. People can sit down on the exhibited objects as they like and experience the comfort that the design has brought forth. They are willing to follow the oriental philosophy, to slow down, calm down, sit down and think a while. That is what I can read from a picture in Zeng Hui’s micro blog. Although I can’t go to Milan to personally experience the situation in that picture, I can’t help sighing over the dog, wondering when our exhibition would be so open like that. I still remember that during the Beijing International Design Week (BIDW) of last year and Beijing International Design Triennial held in National Museum of China, what I saw was not the exhibits but the disorderly viewers, security personnel and cordons everywhere. All those exhibits seemed too sacred in this situation and thus inaccessible, some of which were even separated from viewers in more than ten meters’ distance so that they can only adjust the focal length of camera to have clear vision. Perhaps, we can tell the difference between Milan and Beijing in the design culture just through the dog and cordons.

Weaving Designed by Zhang Lei

Fortunately, I am not the only person who realizes the gap and Chinese design circle is endeavoring utmost to narrow down the distance. The fundamental mission of BIDW held in 2011 for the first time is to introduce design into people’s life, henceforth enhance people’s understanding of design culture. Although there is still much to be improved, the starting point of the sponsors is correctly fixed. To popularize Chinese cultivation of design culture and improve design educational environment is the fundamental path to perfect Chinese design industry in the long run. Luckily, the organizing committee of BIDW has a clear understanding of this.

Butterfly (Chair), Drop (Table), Dew (Hanging Lamp) Designed by Zhang Lei

Since popularization will resolve the Chinese design development in the long term, what else can we do at present? The organizing committee of BIDW gives the answer as well, viz. to promote the trade of design. Design is a kind of practical art and only by making the design market-oriented can we enable design to enter and change the life in a better way. Only in this way can designers get good feedback and fulfill a good recycling of design development.